Bank Robber Claims Prayer as Motivation, Police Say

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Vance Police Chief Ralph Burnell said, "He said he even pulled over on the side of the road and prayed about it. He just couldn't find it in himself to do anything different."

A bank robbery suspect allegedly told Alabama police that he performed the heists after praying for an answer to his problems.

Christopher Bruce has been charged with robbing the West Alabama Bank in Woodstock, Ala., on Monday and First Financial Bank in Vance, Ala., a week ago, Fox 19 reported.

Investigators told Fox 19 that Bruce had been having difficulties finding work as a convicted felon. After he was arrested, Bruce allegedly confessed to robbing the banks after praying for some way to help his situation, police said.

"He said he couldn't get a break and he didn't know how he was going to survive. He said he even pulled over on the side of the road and prayed about it. He just couldn't find it in himself to do anything different," Vance Police Chief Ralph Burnell told Fox 19.

Woodstock Police Chief Len Price said the Mustang Bruce used to flee the scene was found wrecked and abandoned miles from the West Alabama Bank, Fox 19 reported. Price said Bruce left a tag behind that led investigators to match his driver's license photo to the video caught by the bank surveillance cameras.

Bruce is in custody facing charges for the bank robberies along with outstanding warrants.